Crowd fights possible Valley Central school closings

Tuesday

Mar 5, 2013 at 2:00 AM

MONTGOMERY — In hopes of sparing Maybrook and East Coldenham elementary schools from the chopping block, nearly 400 parents, children, teachers and community residents turned out for the Valley Central School District's budget meeting on Monday night.

Pauline Liu

MONTGOMERY — In hopes of sparing Maybrook and East Coldenham elementary schools from the chopping block, nearly 400 parents, children, teachers and community residents turned out for the Valley Central School District's budget meeting on Monday night.

Many spoke passionately about saving Maybrook Elementary, including Maybrook Mayor Dennis Leahy, who received a round of applause from the standing-room-only crowd.

"I will repeat it again and again and again, that no village in the Town of Montgomery should be without a school," he said.

The district, with an enrollment of 4,700 students, needs to close an $8.1 million budget gap.

Shutting Maybrook Elementary, which has the smallest enrollment, would reduce the gap by 10 percent, or $800,000.

While closing East Coldenham is also being considered as an option, district officials say it's not likely to happen in the near future.

"It's not about not liking Maybrook," said Schools Superintendent Richard Hooley. "It's about the economics of keeping a school open for 220 students."

District officials also discussed other options, including exceeding the tax cap, which is $2.2 million.

But in order to cover the budget gaps and spare both Maybrook Elementary and programs such as art, music and sports from being cut, administrators said voters might have to approve a 21.31 percent tax cap or an increase of 16 percent.

Hooley explained that the tax cap and state aid formulas were key reasons why Valley Central finds itself in difficulty.

Several town police officers were assigned to the meeting, held at the Valley Central Middle School, because school officials were concerned that emotions could run high. Though some members in the crowd raised their voices and heckled administrators as they spoke, most of the meeting was orderly.

The next budget meeting will be held Monday night at the middle school to discuss potential cuts in greater detail.

pliu@th-record.com

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.